How to make a binary name-badge

This article was taken from the February 2013
issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in
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Wondering how to introduce your children to 8-bit ASCII binary without
sending them into a ones-and-zeros-induced coma? Break out the
beaded jewellery and get creative. Using just two colours and some
simple translation, they can spell out their name or a secret
message on a badge or necklace.

Translate your name into code Draw a grid with nine vertical columns. In the first,
going down, fill in your name or message. Using the chart below,
which details the eight-digit binary ASCII code equivalent for
every letter in the alphabet, write each letter's code in the
adjoining spaces in that row.

Make the letters Pick one colour bead for "zero" and another for "one".
Pour a few beads of each colour on to a paper plate to corral them.
Referring to your grid, open the first pin and use the point to
pick up each bead in order. Close the pin. For a name pin, pry
apart the coil at the end of the larger pin a bit and slide the
point through the coil at the bottom of the beaded pin; repeat for
each letter. For a necklace, string the beaded pin on to a piece of
cord. Doing this as you finish each letter will help to keep them
in order. For a variation, add clues to your code using alphabet
beads.